Wichita ? Uninsured Kansans would receive prescription drug discounts of at least 15 percent under a health initiative unveiled Wednesday by Gov. Kathleen Sebelius.

The program, Community Rx Kansas, was introduced by Sebelius during a news conference at a Wichita pharmacy. Also announced was a separate $500,000 infusion of state dollars to help educate seniors and disabled who are confused about the Medicare prescription drug plan.

“I believe no Kansan should go without critical medicine because of the cost,” Sebelius said. “We have an obligation to help our neighbors by giving them the tools they need to live healthy, productive lives.”

About 150,000 Kansas have no drug coverage, she said. Under the plan, households making 200 percent or below of the federal poverty level (about $38,700 for a family of four) would qualify for the assistance program.

For a $10 enrollment fee, households would be able to buy drugs discounted up to 80 percent at 286 participating pharmacies statewide, Sebelius said. The first $10 annual fee will be waived for those people who enroll before Jan. 31.

Community Rx Kansas was initially established with $200,000 allocated for it by the 2005 Legislature, with the ongoing discounted costs shouldered by the participating pharmacies, Sebelius said.

“It is very much a public-private partnership,” the governor said.

Kent Richardson, president of the Right Choice Pharmacy network, said participating pharmacies are committed to the program.

“We thought it best for us to come up with a solution as Kansas pharmacies, as opposed to it coming from the outside,” Richardson said.

Costs for the discounted drugs would not be passed on to insured customers since pharmacies are “stuck being paid” whatever the insurance company pays them, he said.

The other initiative is targeted at the 400,000 Kansans who are eligible for the new Medicare prescription drug benefit – but are struggling to figure out which of its 41 plans is best for their needs.

Sebelius said she planned to funnel $500,000 into efforts to help Kansas seniors and disabled persons on Medicare pick the best plan for them. Part of the money will go for phone lines and other improvements at Senior Health Insurance Counseling of Kansas and to 17 other local groups that are already working to help seniors sort the Medicare plans out.